Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-24
reached, when the Master of the Fox

| There remained about mile Bob was
gaining very rapidly, but his horse began
/ to show leg WEAKNESS. First he hooked
on at a couple Of low ones, then he crashed
through " snake" and finally he refused
point blank at post-and-rail with slight
/ drop, and his rider lost all the ground he
had gained. lie almost gave up in despair
as the obstinate shack" breasted the fence
again and again, ard came up standing
each time. The horses ahead kept in
creasing their lead AT last, in sheer des-
| peration, he rushed his horse and lifted
| him into the fence Horse, rider and rails
came down with crash No damage, and
| he was in the saddle almost instantly His
horse was frightened now, and went better.
He gained rapidly. But it was no use
the distance was too short. The station
was in sight-the fugitives were still field
away. There remained two fields with a
| lane between, and they would be on the
road. Bob knew the country well, and
knew that the in-and-out at the lane was
a bad one, while the fence at the road was
calker." He doubted his ability to
get over them, and if he succeeded there
was not enough fiat for him to overtake the
riders ahead. The distant whistle of the
engine could be heard 1t was no use
they wosld easily make it.
But stop the white mare had re-
fused at the first fence of the in-and-out.
He might overtake them after all A new
/ hope seized him; he spurred on his horse.
The white mares rider wheeled her
! quickly, and with scarcely three strides
space lifted her at the fence. The animal
breasted the rails and stood still. Again
! how ~ t,,ry,aI To-, :.
her from distance, and under rain of
blows. Bob inyoluntarily refined his horse
and held his breath. The little arm of
| the fearless rider fell, the resembling blows
of the crop ceased; she was steadying the
mare. The speed was terrifc-so fast that
the animal had no time to refuse, no time
to check and rise even. Lifting her legs
close under her, she made Rving hurdle
race leap, and cleared, landing far over in
the lane, so far that she had not room to
rise and take the second fence-the out.
Frightened as she was she tried it, made
an awkward attempt to buck over, breast
ed the barrier, and landed heavily on the
other side, her rider underneath.
Good Cog" exclaimed Bob. He was
near enough to see that the fall was not
mere spill; it was regular & crusher;"
horse and rider lay quite still.
In an instant he had forgotten what
brought him where he was he forgot that
his wife the moment before had been flee
ing from him; he forgot his hatred for the
man she was with. Pride, anger, the
desire for revenge was crowded out by one
thought-the fear that she might be
hurt
1t seemed as though his horse would
never get across the field he was in, the
one adjoining the lane. The animal seemed
to stand still. He dug his spurs into the
beasts sides until his legs seemed unable
to hold him to the saddle; he slashed him
with his crop, he shook the lines, he rose
in the saddle involuntarily, in his mad
haste to get ahead. He coaxed, he threat
ened, and finally settled back in despair.
Would he ever get across the field? He
felt sure his wife had been badly hurt,
fatally, perhaps. He saw her mangled
form; her forehead gashed. Why had he
spoken harshly to her? He forgot to
blame her, and remembered the past only
to reproach himself.
He was there at last. Leading from his
horse, he hurriedly climbed the two fences
of the lane, and hastened over to the
| PROSTATE form on the other side. The
white mare had risen and stood near bv
cowed by the shock of the fall Mintmn
was on his knees at the side of the fallen
rider. He rose as Bob approached.
Its bad fall" he said, "heres my
flask. Pll try to get 4 doctor and trap of
some kind at the station" and mounting
his horse he put off at full speed.
Bob scarcely heard him. He thought of
nothing but the woman before him. He
knelt at her side. How strange she looked.
Darling" he murmured, lifting her head,
''are you hurt ?"
She was alive, she moved and half
| opened her eyes.
Darling" he repeated, "speak to me;
are you hurt ?"
This time the eyes opened wide and
looked at him. Instead of the deep blue
eyes of his wife he beheld a pair of pierre
ing blacks. He started, looked again, and
recognized Miss Annie Minturn, Jacks
younger sister.
| AT Il short distance away all ladies look
very much alike on horseback. Jack and
Miss Annie, who quickly recovered from
her fall, which was not very bad after all.
had tried to catch the express in order to
's~ go SHiiiSo iSNNptAOh' TIC Willie
mare had been in Jacks possession but
few days, and Bob had never seen her.
She bore striking resemblance to his
wife's hack, Lady Blanche
Mr.. Bob Brandow was not the happiest
man in the world during the rest of the
autumn. He could have stood with some
degree of calmness Miss Minturn's timidity
in his presence, but the way she had at
times of looking steadily at him from a
distance with mixed amusement and pity.
seriously worked upon his nervous system.
1t was also rather disconcerting to have
Jack watch him suspiciously whenever he
was anywhere near Miss Annie. He stood
it as long as he could, and finally declared
his determination to finish the season in
Ireland with the Grenely pack.
Mrs. BRANDON enjoyed hunting during
the rest of the season more than ever be-
fore. She supplied the Master of the Fox
hounds with amount whenever she pleased,
and was never forced to make her threat
ened visit to mamma.